Category Archives: Tennessee

5 parks to visit along the Great River Road this summer

Tuesday, June 09, 2026

Explore some of the Mississippi River’s best scenery this summer with a visit to one of the dozens of parks along the Great River Road, which follows the river for nearly 3,000 miles through 10 states and was recently named Best Scenic Drive for the second year in a row. Here are five state parks to discover on your next road trip on this All-American Road.

Itasca State Park, Minnesota

Wade through the headwaters of the Mississippi River at this state park in far northern Minnesota, about a three-hour drive from the Twin Cities. The mighty Mississippi gets its start at Lake Itasca, one of more than 100 lakes in the park, and it’s so narrow and shallow at the beginning that you can wade across it (or use stepping stones if you don’t want to get your feet wet). The park is home to nearly 50 miles of hiking trails, 16 miles of paved bike routes, dozens of campsites, the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center and the Mary Gibbs Mississippi Headwaters Center.

Pikes Peak State Park, Iowa

This beautiful state park in Clayton County in northeastern Iowa sits in one of the most picturesque parts of the state, overlooking the Mississippi River town of McGregor. The park is home to 11 miles of trails for hiking and biking, and visitors can find amazing views atop the bluffs at the Point Ann lookout on the north end of the park or take a short hike to Bridal Veil Falls on the south end. Campers will find full hook-up and electric sites with easy access to modern restrooms and showers.

Wyalusing State Park, Wisconsin

Take a quick trip across the Mississippi River to Wisconsin to find this equally stunning state park at the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers. Enjoy the views atop the 500-foot bluffs at one of Wisconsin’s oldest state parks, which offers great opportunities for hiking, canoeing, fishing, birdwatching, and more.

Columbus-Belmont State Park*, Kentucky

Located in southwestern Kentucky along the Mississippi River, this 160-acre park was the site of the 1861 Battle of Belmont, the opening of the Union’s Western campaign and Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War. Civil War artifacts—including artillery and a 6-ton anchor used to blockade the river—are on display in the park, which also has a museum and conference center, a 2.5-mile self-guided hiking trail, and a 38-site campground with beautiful views of the Mississippi River.

*official Great River Road Interpretive Center

Reelfoot Lake State Park*,  Tennessee

Reelfoot Lake State Park is the largest natural lake—and nearly half of the lake has a depth of just 3 feet or less. That’s because Reelfoot Lake is actually a flooded cypress forest that was created during a series of strong earthquakes in 1811 and 1812. Today, the lake is the centerpiece of Reelfoot Lake State Park, which is known for its excellent fishing and birdwatching opportunities and offers camping opportunities as well as modern cabins.

*official Great River Road Interpretive Center

(Photo: Wyalusing State Park along the Wisconsin Great River Road/Travel Wisconsin)

Explore these cities on the southern Great River Road

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Whether you’re a music lover, in search of award-winning Southern cuisine, or looking for outdoor adventures on the Mississippi River, you’ll find plenty to see and do in the southern Great River Road states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Here are five cities you shouldn’t miss on your next road trip.

Learn more about the southern Great River Road here.

Wickliffe, Kentucky

Located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers along the Kentucky Great River Road, the small city of Wickliffe is home to great opportunities for outdoor recreation—including fishing, hunting, and hiking—as well as Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site. An official Great River Road Interpretive Center, Wickliffe Mounds is an archaeological site featuring artifacts from the Mississippian mound builder culture that made their home in the region more than 1,000 years ago.

Find more Wickliffe visitor information.

Memphis, Tennessee

Located in southwestern Tennessee, Memphis is a must-visit stop along the Great River Road, offering an amazing mix of musical attractions, recreational opportunities, and delicious food. Iconic music attractions in the city include Elvis Presley’s Graceland, Beale Street, Sun Studio, the Stax Museum, and the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. Visitors can get out and enjoy canoeing on the Mississippi River or biking, hiking, and more at Shelby Farms Park. If you’re hungry, you’re in luck: Memphis is home to more than 100 barbecue restaurants.

Find more Memphis visitor information.

West Memphis, Arkansas

Just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, West Memphis on the Arkansas Great River Road offers visitors a wide array of opportunities for exploration. Be sure to stop at the Delta Cultural Center, a museum and official Great River Road Interpretive Center that features educational exhibits about the people and the land in the Arkansas Delta (it’s also home to the long-running King Biscuit Time radio show). Visitors can also take a stroll (or a bike ride) across the Big River Crossing, a former railroad bridge that spans the Mississippi River between Arkansas and Tennessee and is now the longest cycle/pedestrian bridge over the mighty waterway.

Find more West Memphis visitor information.

Clarksdale, Mississippi

Visit the “Birthplace of the Blues” in northwestern Mississippi, about a 90-minute drive from Memphis along the Blues Highway (U.S. Highway 6estaurants 1). Music lovers will find lots to love, from the exhibits and history at the Delta Blues Museum to the historic Crossroads at Highway 49 and 61 historic performance venues throughout the city, where visitors can find live music every night of the year. Outdoors adventurers can explore the Mississippi River through Quapaw Canoe Company, and local restaurants serve up regional favorites like catfish, tamales, barbeque, and more.

Find more Clarksdale visitor information.

New Orleans, Louisiana

Whatever you’re interested in exploring along the southern Great River Road—music, history, food, nature, or anything in between—you’ll find a place to do it in New Orleans. Visit iconic music attractions like the French Quarter (home to Preservation Hall, the Jazz Playhouse, and other iconic venues), Frenchmen Street, and the New Orleans Jazz Museum or find delicious local dishes like jambalaya, po’ boys, and gumbo at world-renowned and Michelin-starred restaurants. Great River Road Interpretive Centers like the Louisiana State Museum (which includes seven historic buildings) and the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park & Preserve are amazing places to discover historical and natural attractions.

Find more New Orleans visitor information.

(Photo: Elvis fans in front of Graceland in Memphis – Alex Shansky/Memphis Travel)

Vote for the Great River Road as America’s best scenic drive

Monday, April 06, 2026

We’re excited to announce that we’ve once again been nominated as America’s Best Scenic Drive in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards!

Voting runs through 11am CT Monday, May 4, so show your support for the Great River Road by registering and voting here (you can vote once a day during the voting period).

The top 10 winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 13.

Want to learn more about what makes the Great River Road so special? Check out these articles:

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more Great River Road scenery.

(Photo: Latsch State Park, Minnesota/Susie Loechler)

4 museums to visit on the southern Great River Road

Thursday, December 04, 2025

If you’re traveling along the southern Mississippi River, there are lots of interesting attractions to visit, whether you’re interested in music history, stories of life on the river, or unique hands-on educational experiences. Here are four museums you should visit on your next Great River Road trip.

Find more Great River Road Interpretive Centers here.

Delta Blues Museum, Mississippi

Blues lovers shouldn’t miss the place where this uniquely American genre of music was born: Mississippi’s Delta region. Clarksdale, located about 75 miles south of Memphis, is home to the Delta Blues Museum, which features exhibits and artifacts that tell the story of blues music and its legends, from Muddy Waters and Son House to Robert Johns and Howlin’ Wolf.

Discovery Park of America, Tennessee

This state-of-the-art 100,000-square-foot museum in Union City in northwestern Tennessee boasts a bevy of interesting exhibits across 10 galleries, with interactive displays on everything from local Native American cultures to outer space to natural history. The facility is also home to a 50-acre outdoor heritage park that features a manmade river, waterfalls, bridges, and other scenic features.

The Louisiana Great River Road Interpretive Center and Museum

Located on the grounds of the historic Houmas House Estate and Gardens outside of New Orleans, the Great River Road Interpretive Center and Museum shares the story of the lower Mississippi River with visitors, highlighting the waterway’s effects on transportation, commerce, music, and river life. The 35,000-square-foot museum is designed to resemble a Mississippi River steamboat, and visitors can also look out on the Mighty Mississippi at an overlook that’s reached via a pedestrian bridge over the Great River Road.

Delta Cultural Center, Arkansas

Learn about the people, industry, and history of the Arkansas Delta at this museum complex in Helena, which is about a 70-mile drive south of Memphis on the Arkansas side of the river. The center’s Depot building—a renovated 1912 railroad station—features several permanent exhibits that educate visitors about the history and geography of the Delta. The Cherry Street Pavilion outside the Depot is the site of annual King Biscuit Blues Festival.

Photo: Discovery Park of America

Where to go camping on the Mississippi River

Monday, September 01, 2025

Planning a camping trip along the Mississippi River this year? Here’s a look at one can’t-miss campsite in each state along the Great River Road, from north to south.

Itasca State Park*, Minnesota

This state park—Minnesota’s oldest—is the starting point of both the Mississippi River and the Great River Road. Located about 20 miles north of Park Rapids in northern Minnesota, the 32,000-acre park includes more than 100 lakes, including Lake Itasca, the headwaters of the Mississippi River. It’s also home to nearly 50 miles of trails, historic cabins & lodges, the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center, which is an official Great River Road Interpretive Center.

How many campsites are there? More than 200, including campgrounds and backcountry sites; cabins & lodges also available

Wyalusing State Park, Wisconsin

One of Wisconsin’s most scenic state parks, Wyalusing State Park sits at the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers and offers outstanding views from atop a 500-foot bluff that overlooks the Mississippi River and its backwaters. The park features group campsites and family campsites, as well as a group lodge, and visitors will enjoy hiking trails, fishing, boating, paddling, and other recreational activities.

How many campsites are there? 100+

Pikes Peak State Park, Iowa

From Wyalusing State Park, head west across the Mississippi River into Iowa and you’ll find Pikes Peak State Park, which also offers great camping, recreation, and scenic views. The park boasts 11 miles of trails and several overlooks where visitors can see the nearby town of McGregor and the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers.

How many campsites are there? 75+

Pere Marquette State Park, Illinois

A popular destination for hiking, fishing, and boating, Pere Marquette State Park is Illinois’ largest state park. The park is situated at the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers and features impressive views of the two waterways, as well as a scenic drive, more than a dozen miles of hiking trails, equestrian routes, and opportunities for rock climbing.

How many campsites are there? 80+; lodging is also available at the Pere Marquette Lodge

Mark Twain Cave Complex Campground, Missouri

Want to learn more about an American literary icon? Head to the city of Hannibal in northeastern Missouri (about a 2-hour drive north of St. Louis) to learn about the early life of native son Mark Twain and how his surroundings in this Mississippi River community shaped his work. One site featured prominently in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is what’s now known as the Mark Twain Cave Complex, which features the famed cave, as well as a winery and a campsite with more than 100 sites, ranging from tent sites to deluxe RV sites.

How many campsites are there? More than 100; the Little House in the Hollow is also available to rent

Columbus-Belmont State Park*, Kentucky

This state park offers outstanding views of the Mississippi River and boasts an interesting history—a former fortification at the site was an important location along the river and saw Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War. The park also features a historical museum, a 2.5-mile hiking trail, miniature golf, a picnic area, and a playground.

How many campsites are there? 38

Reelfoot Lake State Park*, Tennessee

This lake in northwestern Tennessee has an amazing natural history: it’s a flooded cypress forest that was created during a series of earthquakes along the Mississippi River in the 1810s. Today, is a popular lake for fishing, birdwatching, and camping. The park’s nature center features educational exhibits about local wildlife and live raptors and other animals on display.

How many campsites are there? 100+; premium cabins are also available

Mississippi River State Park*, Arkansas

This popular state park in east-central Arkansas is a great way to get out on the Mississippi River and its backwaters via canoe or kayak, and anglers find good success in the park’s waters for largemouth bass, crappie, and channel catfish. Mississippi River State Park is also an excellent spot for birdwatching, as it’s part of the Audubon Great River Birding Trail.

How many campsites are there? 50+

Bob M. Dearing Natchez State Park, Mississippi

Located just east of the historic city of Natchez, this park covers 48,000 acres and is a good spot for fishing (it’s the site of the state’s record largemouth bass catch). The park is also home to a nine-hole disc golf course, a playground, a nature trail, picnic sites, and a pavilion.

How many campsites are there? 60+; vacation cabins are also available

Bayou Segnette State Park, Louisiana

Bayou Segnette State Park may not technically be on the Mississippi River—it takes about a 15-minute drive south of New Orleans to get there), it’s still a fantastic spot for outdoor recreation in southern Louisiana. Recreation options include saltwater and freshwater fishing, boating, paddling, and hiking, and the park also has a wave pool, a 3-mile nature trail and playgrounds.

How many campsites are there? Approximately 100; deluxe cabins are also available to rent

 

*denotes an Official Great River Road Interpretive Center

 

Photo: Mississippi River Overlook at Pikes Peak State Park, Iowa/Charles Fischer

Historical sites on the southern Great River Road

Monday, March 10, 2025

A trip along the Great River Road is a trip through the history of America. Here are some historical sites and museums you shouldn’t miss as you follow the Mississippi River through Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana. 

Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, Kentucky

At this archaeological site located on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River in southwestern Kentucky, visitors can learn about life at a former Native American village dating to 1100-1350AD. Visitors can tour the earthen mounds and explore a museum with artifacts from the village that illustrate how these early inhabitants used the river’s resources.

Chucalissa and the C.H. Nash Museum, Tennessee

Another site connected to the river’s Native American heritage can be found just south of Memphis along the Mississippi River in Tennessee. Chucalissa, administered by the University of Memphis, is an archaeological site that was part of the Mississippian culture and was occupied, abandoned, and reoccupied several times between 1000 and 1500AD. The C.H. Nash Museum has an extensive collection of artifacts from the Chucalissa site and includes a large outdoor archaeological display.

Sultana Disaster Museum, Arkansas

Did you know that the country’s worst maritime disaster took place on the Mississippi River? The Sultana, a Civil War-era steamboat, exploded in April 1865, claiming more than 1,200 lives. Uncover the history of what happened that night at this engaging museum in downtown Marion, just a short drive across the river from Memphis.

Delta Blues Museum, Clarksdale

It wouldn’t be a trip through the Mississippi Delta without a little blues history, and Clarksdale’s Delta Blues Museum is a great place to go for people who want to learn more about this uniquely American art form. The Delta Blues Museum contains a plethora unique exhibits, including the sharecropper home where Muddy Waters lived, instruments played by greats like B.B. King and Big Mama Thornton, and the sign from the juke joint where Robert Johnson played his final gig. (When you’re done exploring the museum, check out some live music in town—Clarksdale has live blues music 365 days a year!) 

Poverty Point UNESCO World Heritage Site, Louisiana

One of two UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the Great River Road (the other is at Cahokia Mounds in Illinois), the 400-acre Poverty Point site preserves a complex array of earthworks that dates as far back as 1700BC. While much of the purpose of the site remains a mystery (it is believed that the mounds and ridges were home sites), it’s still an impressive attraction that welcomes visitors daily. 

Find more Interpretive Centers on the Great River Road here.

Photo: Sultana Disaster Museum/Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

25 reasons to drive the Great River Road

Friday, January 10, 2025

It’s a new year, the perfect time for a new adventure on the Great River Road. This All-American Road follows the Mississippi River for nearly 3,000 miles through 10 states and offers everything you need in a road trip, from amazing scenery to engaging history to delicious cuisine. Here are some reasons why you should hit the Great River Road this year.

  1. Nearly 3,000 miles of road that passes through 10 states’ worth of history, culture, food and beautiful scenery
  2. A chance to visit charming river towns and big cities
  3. The Great River Road has been named an All-American Road, a distinct honor from the Federal Highway Administration that acknowledges the road’s significance and one-of-a-kind attractions
  4. A network of nearly 100 Interpretive Centers—museums, historical sites & more that tell the story of the river (learn more about our Interpretive Centers)
  5. Stunning scenery all along the drive
  6. See the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park in Minnesota, where the Mississippi is so narrow you can walk across it
  7. Exciting opportunities for spring recreation
  8. Great music sites like the Delta Blues Museum in Mississippi, Beale Street and Graceland in Memphis and New Orleans’ Frenchman Street
  9. National Park sites: Gateway Arch National Park (Missouri); Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (Minnesota); Effigy Mounds National Monument (Iowa); Arkansas Post National Memorial; Natchez National Historic Park (Mississippi) and more
  10. Chances to get out on the water all along the Great River Road
  11. Head out in September to celebrate Drive the Great River Road Month, one of the best times of the year to make the drive
  12. Incredible local parks and scenic overlooks
  13. Fun annual events on the northern and southern sections of the Great River Road
  14. Can’t-miss history museums like the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, The Cabildo in New Orleans and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis
  15. Local flavors at restaurants, farmers’ markets and more—see some of our fans’ favorites here
  16. Great birdwatching—more than 300 species of birds make their migratory round trip every year via the Mississippi River Flyway
  17. Impressive civil engineering at the more than two dozen locks and dams on the Upper Mississippi River
  18. Hidden gems like Arkansas’s World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest & Wings Over the Prairie Festival in Stuttgart and Mike the Tiger—a real-live tiger that lives on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge (see more hidden gems here and here)
  19. River cruises—you can find daylong excursions on the backwaters or weekslong cruises on the northern and southern sections of the river
  20. Amazing opportunities to see fall color
  21. UNESCO World Heritage Sites at Cahokia Mounds (Illinois) and Poverty Point (Louisiana)
  22. Opportunities for outdoor recreation all along the route
  23. Great places to learn about the river region’s natural history, like the National Eagle Center and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
  24. Tasty wineries and breweries all along the route
  25. Unique shops where you’ll find the perfect gift (or something to take home for yourself!)

That’s just scratching the surface of what you can see along the Great River Road—plan your getaway today and find your own reasons to take America’s greatest drive.

(Photo: Arkansas Parks, Heritage & Tourism)

Why you should plan a Great River Road trip next year

Monday, November 25, 2024

Looking for a one-of-a-kind American adventure? Plan a road trip along the Great River Road, which follows the mighty Mississippi River for nearly 3,000 miles. The 10-state route offers a little bit of everything, from engaging historical sites to stunning scenery to delicious dining—here are four reasons to plan your road trip today.

It’s America’s greatest drive.

The Great River Road, which stretches from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana, is an All-American Road, a designation given to only the most notable scenic byways. All-American Roads offer a truly unique experience to travelers that they can’t find anywhere else.

The Great River Road was established in 1938 and has encouraged road trippers to discover the heart of America ever since. The Great River Road passes through big cities and small river towns, passing National Park Service sites, state parks, historic bridges, and locks & dams.

Taking the whole road in one trip is about 36 hours of driving, but most visitors spend 10 to 14 days if they’re doing the whole route (which isn’t mandatory—many travelers will just travel on one state’s section of the Great River Road or hope back and forth between neighboring states.

Learn more about the best drive in America.

There are lots of stunning sights along the way.

A trip along the Great River Road is a trip through some of America’s most beautiful scenery. Start your trip at the same place the Mississippi River does: Itasca State Park in northern Minnesota, where the river is so narrow you can walk across it (or roll up your pants and wade across in the summer).

The northern section of the road—especially Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois—are home to lots of scenic overlooks at state and local parks that offer outstanding views of the river and the surrounding scenery. Get your cameras ready and head to photo hotspots like Garvin Heights Park in Winona, Minnesota; Buena Vista Park in Alma, Wisconsin; Pike’s Peak State Park in McGregor, Iowa; or Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, Illinois, where you can take a chair lift or gondola from the river to the blufftops.

See more scenic spots on the Great River Road here and here.

You’ll learn a lot at our Interpretive Centers.

There are nearly 100 official Great River Road Interpretive Centers—museums, historical sites, and other attractions that tell the story of the river and its people. Interpretive Centers can be found up and down the Great River Road and cover everything from music history (the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi) to Mississippi River ecology (the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa) to some of the region’s earliest settlers (Cahokia Mounds State Historical Site in Collinsville, Illinois, and Poverty Point in Pioneer, Louisiana, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.)

Learn more about our Interpretive Centers.

You don’t want to miss the food.

From walleye in Minnesota to cheese curds in Wisconsin to catfish in Mississippi to… well, almost everything in New Orleans, the Great River Road’s outstanding local and regional cuisines are enough to fulfill almost any appetite. Diners will find a little bit of everything, from James Beard Award-winning restaurants to family-owned roadside stops that have been in business for generations.

And that’s not to mention the ice cream stands, sweets shops, and bakeries you’ll find all along the route, as well as the wineries, breweries, and distilleries that craft some of your favorite beverages with care.

Learn more about the flavors of the Great River Road.

Photo: Confluence of the Yazoo and Mississippi Rivers in Vicksburg, Mississippi/Lola McCrarey

All about our Interpretive Centers

Friday, November 01, 2024

Up and down the Great River Road, you’ll find special spots where you can learn about the history, culture, and natural wonders of the Mississippi River region. Here’s what you need to know about the Great River Road’s official network of Interpretive Centers.

What is an Interpretive Center?

The Great River Road’s Interpretive Centers include a wide variety of attractions, including museums, historical sites, state and national parks, and even UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These Interpretive Centers can be found in big cities and small towns all along the Mississippi River and tell the story of the river, its people, and the events—geological and otherwise—that have shaped life and culture here over the centuries. 

How many Interpretive Centers are there on the Great River Road?

The Great River Road’s official network of Interpretive Centers features nearly 100 sites across our 10-state region. Iowa’s stretch of the Great River Road has the most Interpretive Centers with 18, followed by Arkansas with 15.

Here’s how many Interpretive Centers you can find in each of the Great River Road states:

  • Iowa: 17
  • Arkansas:15
  • Minnesota: 13
  • Louisiana, Mississippi: 9
  • Illinois: 8
  • Missouri, Wisconsin: 7 each
  • Tennessee: 3
  • Kentucky: 2

See a full list of Interpretive Centers by state here.

All the Great River Road Interpretive Centers are also included on our free 10-state map.

What kinds of things can I learn about at the Interpretive Centers?

The Great River Road’s Interpretive Centers educate visitors about a wide range of topics, from natural history to the Civil War and everything in between. Here’s a little taste of what you’ll discover:

The Mississippi River & more: Visit the headwaters of the Mississippi River and learn about the area’s ecology and history at the Jacob V. Brower Visitor Center at Itasca State Park. Further south along the river in Minneapolis, the National Park Service’s Mississippi River Visitor Center in St. Paul has exhibits about the river and its related recreational offerings. The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa, is home to dozens of species of fish and other animals that call the river home. 

History: See remnants from ancient Mississippi River cultures at Cahokia Mounds Historical Site in Illinois and Poverty Point in Louisiana, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Military history buffs can visit Vicksburg National Military Park in Mississippi and Columbus-Belmont State Park in Kentucky to see two important sites from the Civil War. Learn about the life of America’s most famous author at the Mark Twain Boyhood Home and Museum in Hannibal, Missouri.

Music: The Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale, Mississippi, is a must-visit for any music lover—visitors can see Muddy Waters’ sharecropper home, instruments played by blues legends like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, and much more. Learn about the early life of country music legend Johnny Cash at the History Dyess Colony and Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in the Arkansas Delta.

Are there other attractions along the Great River Road?

Yes! The Great River Road is home to lots of interesting places to stop, including scenic overlooks and locks & dams. See a state-by-state list here.

Photo: Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage & Tourism

Interpretive Centers to visit on the southern Great River Road

Tuesday, August 06, 2024

The Great River Road’s network of Interpretive Centers tells the story of the Mississippi River, its people, and its history at museums, historical sites, parks, and more through 10 states. Here are some of the Interpretive Centers you shouldn’t miss on the southern half of the road in Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana.

See more Interpretive Centers along the Great River Road here.

Fun for everyone

Discovery Park of America is a one-of-a-kind museum in northwestern Tennessee that features exhibits about Native American history, space exploration, dinosaurs, natural history, and loads more, as well as a 50-acre heritage park featuring gardens, a grist mill, and a manmade river.

Learn about the birth of blues music at the Delta Blues Museum in Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta, about a 90-minute drive from Memphis. The museum features interesting exhibits and artifacts, including Muddy Waters’ sharecropper home, instruments played by greats like B.B. King and John Lee Hooker, and the sign from the juke joint where Robert Johnson played his final show.

Music fans can also see where a young Johnny Cash grew up at the Historic Dyess Colony/Johnny Cash Boyhood Home in northeastern Arkansas. This Arkansas State University Heritage Site educates visitors about the Great Depression and the Dyess Colony (a farm resettlement colony established by the federal government) and how these factors shaped the early life of the famed musician and many others. 

Parks and natural areas

Anglers, boaters, and birdwatchers will find a lot to explore at Lake Chicot State Park in southeastern Arkansas. Lake Chicot is 20 miles long and is the largest oxbow lake in North America, offering outstanding opportunities for fishing and boating, and programs at the park include tours of the lake and the Mississippi River levee.

Reelfoot Lake State Park in northwestern Tennessee has an interesting geologic history—the largest natural lake in Tennessee, Reelfoot Lake was formed during a violent earthquake in 1811 that caused the Mississippi River to flow backward and sank the area’s cypress trees under a massive rush of water. Today, Reelfoot Lake is a popular fishing destination (it’s one of the world’s best natural fish hatcheries) and a good spot for birdwatching, camping, and other activities.

The Jean Lafitte National Historic Park & Preserve invites visitors to explore New Orleans and beyond, offering free walking tours of the city’s famed French Quarter and lots of other sites to discover, including the 23,000-acre Barataria Preserve and three Acadian attractions that focus on Cajun life and traditions.

A trip through history

Kentucky’s stretch of the Great River Road is the shortest in the 10-state region, but visitors can still find some interesting historical attractions. Columbus-Belmont State Park sits on the site of a former Confederate fortification where the Battle of Belmont began in 1861, marking the opening of the Union’s western campaign (it was also Ulysses S. Grant’s first active engagement in the Civil War). Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site is home to Native American mounds built by the Mississippian culture from the 12th to 14th century—a museum on site contains artifacts and shows visitors how the inhabitants used the river’s resources in their daily lives.

Another Civil War site worth visiting is Vicksburg National Military Park in east-central Mississippi. Vicksburg was the site of one of the most important campaigns of the Civil War, and visitors will learn about the men who fought this pitched battle for control of the Mississippi River, a key conflict that shaped the outcome of the war.

Did you know that Louisiana is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Poverty Point World Heritage Site in the northeastern corner of the state preserves the remnants of a complex array of earthworks that predate the Mayan periods. The site dates to as early as 1700 BC and encompasses more than 400 acres.